17 Oct NEW PROJECT: 3D PRINTING OF STRONG FIBER REINFORCED POLYMERS (3DPSTRONG)
High performance fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are at increasing demand in key industry sectors (e.g., aerospace, automotive) due to modern lightweight design strategy, which triggers reduced structural weight while preserving the high mechanics performances; reduced fuel consumption and consequent reduced NOx emission; and increased design flexibility compared to traditional isotropic materials.
Digital additive manufacturing (AM, commonly referred to as 3D printing) has also emerged as a relatively new and booming technological concept. A method of extreme interest for further development and innovation due to its potential to bring complete modification of the production chain; with no need for complex tooling and reduced need for auxiliary manufacturing systems, which translates into less associated costs, more efficient resources usage, and positive environment impact; technology adapted to low production rates, at yet competitive costs; offering the possibility to produce complex assemblies with fewer parts and fewer joining elements; in a more flexible manner, being able to rapidly apply changes to the design, meeting thus the needs of a more and more dynamic market; resulting in almost zero manufacturing waste; advanced human-machine interaction in a compact and predominantly automated and computer controlled environment for integrated design and manufacturing; which make this new manufacturing technology have a direct track to the market and to industrial applications.
